Library Bond and Swan Valley Library Improvements, Shooting Range Discussed

SWAN VALLEY - Missoula County Public Library (MCPL) Director Honore Bray presented about the MCPL Bond and Swan Valley Library improvements to nearly 40 attendees at the Swan Valley Community Council (SVCC) meeting Oct. 18. Swan Valley resident Rick Ferguson also presented the idea of a shooting range in the Swan Valley.

Bray explained the $30 million library building bond that appears on the ballot this November. Bray explained that the present MCPL building is out of space. There are requests every day for more books for which there would be room in the new library if the bond passes.

She said the eight branch libraries in the county, of which the Swan Library is one, would benefit from the expanded collection. MCPL uses couriers to circulate books between the branches and 28 other partner libraries in Montana. She said it is an economical system that costs only 32 cents a book because they can buy fewer books which are then rotated around the branches and partners to patrons who have put them on hold in their local library. She added that the MCPL and branches check out one and a half million books each year along with 101,850 e-items.

“It is a big difference. People still like to hold books.” Bray said.

Bray said that the architects told her this is a 100-year building based on bench marks the size of Missoula County with adaptations built in that can change as time goes on. For example, she said the floors are raised so the wiring for expanded internet service can be easily added.

SVCC member Marcia Tapp said, “I appreciate all of this but I would like to see some improvements for our structure here which is crowded and outdated.”

This question led to discussion about what MCPL is offering to improve for the Swan Valley Library.

In the Department of Labor and Industry recent inspection and report for the Swan Valley Library, the insurance requested improvements to the lighting and heating in the Swan Valley Library. Bray said she has $100,000 in reserve that she would like to spend here.

The report specifies the lights in both the community hall and library need to be replaced with LED bulbs that need to be covered for safety. The wiring in the library needs to be brought up to code.

Split heat pumps, which both heat and cool, were recommended for both hall and library which along with the lighting would take less electricity. They work in conjunction with the heaters already in place for when the temperature goes below ten degrees below zero.

Bray also offered to replace the high shelving in the middle of the library with 48 inch shelving which makes the room more visible to the librarian and allows more light to fall on the shelves.

Bray would like to see four comfortable seats that have an attached moveable table for those who need it. The circulation desk would be movable so the librarian could either sit or stand.

Bray added that Missoula County pays the insurance premiums on both the community hall and the attached Swan Valley Library, materials and a 20 hour library technician

Tapp said, “We [in the valley] have to pay the same as those in Missoula. I wish we would get more bang for our buck. We get lights, wiring, plug-ins, heat pumps and lower shelves. $30 million minus $100,000, we are not getting our fair share.”

Bray said, “This is all I can offer you. $35 million is $35 million. The building costs $35 million. The $5 million more [on top of the $30 million bond] is being raised independently through the library foundation.”

Resident John Mercer suggested using the money that is set aside for the Swan Library for better broadband service. Bray said that MCPL is in negotiations with Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative for better Internet service that would also be offered to the branches.

Mercer, also the Swan Valley Elementary School (SVES) Board Chair, offered the idea of having the Swan Branch Library in the existing SVES library where they don’t have the deficiencies of the current structure.

“The lights and heat are already in place. We have room for expansion,” said Mercer.

Bray said that it was a great idea; the only issue she saw was the safety of the school where the public would be entering the building.

Bray said that the community needs to have a conversation about what they want.

SVCC Chair Ken Donovan placed time for questions and solutions about improvement to the Swan Library on next month’s agenda.

In other business, Ferguson asked for signatures of those in attendance that would be interested in a 1,000-yard shooting range located in the Swan Valley and those who wanted to be on a board or steering committee to get it started.

Ferguson said the range would have many uses:

• Kid’s hunter safety courses

• Competitive rifle teams

• Concealed weapon courses

• Skeet and turkey shoots

• Rifle, pistol practice

Ferguson said he had received some objections from residents about a shooting range in the valley. They included: noise; traffic going by residents’ houses; drinking alcohol while shooting and trash on the range

Resident Philip Gregory said, “Those problems don’t exist on a well-run range.”

Others agreed that a well-managed range should have shooters that are members, collect dues, install a locked gate and post rules.

When asked about a suitable location for the shooting range, Donovan read a letter from the Flathead National Forest (FNF) District Ranger Rich Kehr about locating a range on FNF land. Kehr stated that he did not know of a range on the FNF but a written proposal can be submitted to the FNF office. Kehr listed some concerns such as safety to shooters, resource damage such as trees being scarred, wildlife management and the area not clear of trash after use.

Those in attendance said that the members could maintain the range or a caretaker could be hired.

Ferguson said, if the community wants to start a shooting range, they need to find expertise in construction of the range and financing. They need to contact other ranges and ask how they got started. He added that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has developed a program from hunting license funds for shooting range development. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1.

“We need support from local shooters. This is a real adventure. We could have some fun.” said Ferguson.

The next SVCC meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall.